SHUTTLEWORTH D-Day Anniversary Military Pageant Air Display Sunday 6th June

[CamelPilot]

D-Day 6th June 2004

Another chance to see collection in the air on what is the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944.

Everyone at Old Warden will make you welcome and will give you a taste of the day the veterans will be celebrating on the other side of the Channel.

PPRuNers will be there too (I know of 6 going) - so a beer or two will be had I expect.

Adults = £15
Accompanied children (under 16) = FREE.

[Grandad Biggles]

If you are considering flying-in suggest that you book your slot ASAP as they are filling up.
01767 627288

Please though, do not book up unless you are reasonably sure you can make it, as others will then miss out.

Remember that when you first make contact with us, that this is your BOOKING REFERENCE not your callsign.

Remember too that an ATZ will be in place for those who may not interrogate the NOTAM's.

[CamelPilot]

Metcheck.com 7 day forecast for Beds says: Sunday 6th June will be 25deg - 5% cloud - 5mph wind. Sounds good and are, generally, as reliable as other sources, if not better.

I will be there and I hope to see as many PPRuNers as possible. Something good to look forward to.

If it is going to be THAT hot and sunny I will bring some PPRuNe caps to sell. Only £7.95. ;)


CP

[Man-on-the-fence]

Its looking good. however predicting the weatehr 3 hours in advance isnt that easy, nearly a week in advance is somewhat hopeful. I use weather.co.uk myself and even they wont go further than Friday.

Anyone notice that Michael Fish got the weather totally wrong in his weeknd forcast on Friday.

Looking forward to it, it should be a great show.

Provisional display content:
Avro 19
Cub
SE5a
Avro 504
Sopwith Triplane
Tiger Moth
Messerschmitt Me108
Miles Magister
de Havilland Chipmunk
North American P51D Mustang
Westland Lysander
RAF Gliders
Miles Messenger
Grumman TBM Avenger
Gloster Gladiator
Hawker Hind
Hawker Sea Hurricane 1b
Supermarine Spitfire MkVc
See the Edwardian Flying Machines
Bristol Boxkite
Blackburn Monoplane
Deperdussin

But as ever things change on the day.

[Duxford_Eagles]

Any idea which Mustang, Nick?

Rob

[Man-on-the-fence]

I had heard Jumpin Jacques but I cant confirm it.

Whichever it is it'll be great.

[Duxford_Eagles]

Cheers, see you there.

Rob

[Milt]

D Day Remembrance

PPruners if you get the opportunity shake the hand of one Fred Coupe, ex RAAF Spitfire pilot who will be there from Oz.

Fred and his Squadron flew in support of D Day. Soon after moved to France. Fred and his Spitfire took many hits, both considerably disabled but able to survive from a wheels up on to a recently abandoned German airfield which was mined before they left. Managed to miss the mines and was rescued by a lighty, probably a Lysander.

Fred spent some time in hospital in UK and is now married to the nurse who assisted his recovery.

A great guy.

[PPRuNe Pop]

I will make a point of seeking him out Milt. He would probably like a pint ;) Thanks for letting us know.

[Hairyplane]

Hi MotF,

Andy Sephton is planning to display my latest acquisition, a very nice PT22, so you can add that one to the list!

B there or B square.

HP

[Duxford_Eagles]

That sounds very nice indeed Hairyplane.

All we need now is some sun.

Rob

[Man-on-the-fence]

Camel Pilot says he has ordered the weather.

Cant wait to see the new toy HP. See you tomorrow.

[PPRuNe Pop]

Tis true, my friend CP did order the weather. Sadly some met man has given this 18hr TAF

EGGW 051620Z 060018 VRB05KT 9999 BKN030
TEMPO 0006 8000 PROB30
TEMPO 1418 5000 TSRA

But the Met Office don't agree.


PPP

[PPRuNe Pop]

A truly fantastic day at the Shuttleworth. The wx was perfect and so was the flying. A remarkable day out.

I think today I have seen probably the best display by a Spitfire anywhere in the many countries I have visited. It was magical, graceful, well positioned and at all times interesting. The finest wingovers I have seen too. One Andy Sephton was the pilot who is also the Chief Pilot. Truly great stuff. Well done sir.

[Duxford_Eagles]

I'll second that.

One of the many reasons I that I go to Old Warden is the quality of the flying. I think that Andy's grin was in danger of breaking through the sides of the canopy when he landed.

The Ryan was a little beauty too. I stuck around for a while after the show to watch it doing circuits and bumps. I think you can discern every individual pop that the engine makes.

Rob

[treadigraph]

I'll third that! First show of the year for me, and a cracker! First time I've seen the Edwardians fly too. I'll be back...

[Rallye Driver]

Very enjoyabe show. Glad the Prime Minister could attend!

The Ryan certainly has "character" - an interesting addition to OW.

Nice to meet up with some PRuNers too.

RD :ok:

[Milt]

PPRuNe Pop

Apologies if you went looking for Fred Coupe in France.

After my recent post learned that Fred was not included in the D Day contingent from Oz.

Found Fred was one of 5 ex RAAF pilots to receive the Legion of Honour from the French Ambassador at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
One of these pilots shot down 4 enemy in maintaining air superiority over the beaches.
Fred was assigned for close in protection at low level so was exposed to ack ack which eventually shot him down.

Fred saw a few enemy diving towards the beaches but they didn't make it to his level except in bits. He said he chased one for a while only to find that it was a Mustang.
His residual wounds and recall of his view of the carnage on the beaches persists.

Shaking his hand and a hug to follow from one fighter pilot to another was somewhat emotional.

[PAXboy]

This question is not directly about the Shuttleworth display but I did not want to start a new thread for this D-Day flying question.

All the TV and radio reports that mentioned the fly pasts of the Lanc and her escorts, refer to, "A Lancaster and two Spitfires." The BoB Memorial Flight has a Hurricane, of course. Was it two Spits or did the BBC not read their briefing papers and no one remembers the name of the a/c that did so much?

[PPRuNe Pop]

Milt,

I have just realised that "will be there" was in France and not at Old Warden. My mistake.

However, a good story and I wish I could have met him him. I have met some of the BoB pilots at one of our bashes and it was a great privilege to shake their hand also. Especially as some were members of 501 Sqn who were involved in dogfights above my house near Croydon in September 1940. It was a moment to cherish and one or two are now friends.

It is hard to accept that at the time of the bash in December 2000, there 324 still alive. I heard over the weekend that the number is now down to less than 200. What a debt we owe those guys too.

PAXboy,

It WAS two Spitfires. The Hurricane was displaying at Duxford - where it unfortunately got bent. Not too seriously apparently.

[vintage ATCO]

PAXboy

I was in darkest Epping on Tuesday and saw the two Spits, Lanc and Dakota going north at around 1100, presumably back to Conningsby from France.

The BBMF Hurricane was at Duxford Sunday and was damaged in a taxiing incident.